In the thick of hockey playoffs, which cities are bringing the heat?
For the first time in 21 years, three Canadian cities are watching their team play in the second round of the NHL playoffs.
May usually means getting out the patio furniture and dusting off the golf clubs, but this year Edmonton, Toronto, and Winnipeg will still be watching hockey. So if you’re not lucky enough to get a ticket, which city has the upper hand when it comes to the best weather for tailgating and outdoor viewing?
Toronto and Winnipeg both have average high temperatures of 19°C for mid-May, while Edmonton trails behind at 17°C.
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The higher likelihood of rain in Toronto should give the top spot to Winnipeg, but then again, Winnipeg is known for its whiteout conditions during playoffs.
This round, all three teams are playing warm-climate teams, so which city on the other side of the battles has bragging rights?
By May, southern Florida is steadily around 30°C, while Texas and Nevada are a little more variable. Las Vegas is already up to 32°C by this time of year, while Dallas is at a more comfortable 28°C.
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May also means tornado season is ramping up in the southern plains, possibly putting a dangerous damper on game time. The winner is more of a personal preference between the dry desert heat, tropical humidity, or managing the storm risk in order to enjoy more moderate temperatures.
The warmest game day during the first round was game two between Florida and Tampa Bay, when Tampa rose to 32.5°C. This is nothing compared to the hottest game day on record, though.
Going deep into the playoffs can push games into June, which is brutally hot in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and even Dallas and Denver. During the modified 2020-21 season, game two of the third round between Vegas and Montreal fell in the midst of an early-season heat wave. June 16th reached 46.7°C on the Vegas strip, taking the top spot on the list of hottest NHL game days on record.
Copy edited by Anika Beaudry, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.
Thumbnail image made by Anika Beaudry using Canva Pro.